-32.15-57.4833332Montes del Queguay (Paysandu) - a reserve in process of becoming a national park

Palmeras (Paysandu) - Paysandu in particular is abundant with local palms (Yatay Palm). On the Argentinian side of the border they are protected in the national park El Palmar.

-32.35-57.23Guichon (Paysandu) - Where the last Charruas were subdued in the 19th century. Now a popular bath resort. There is a monument commemorating the Charrua victims at Salsipuedes. The remains of the Tapera de Melchora Cuenca, Artigas' (the Uruguayan commander) indigenous wife.

This is gaucho (South American cowboy) territory. Don't be surprised to see men in distinctive, old-fashioned clothes riding horses down city streets or beside the highway. Outside of the downtown areas of major cities, you'll see cows and horses grazing almost anywhere you go.

Uruguay has a good internal highway system that connects this region to southern Uruguay. You can also drive across the border from Brazil to Rivera, Artigas, or Bella Unión; or from Argentina to Paysandú or Salto.

Even though you can see the Argentinian city of Monte Caseros from Bella Unión, there's no bridge between the two cities, so drivers would have to go around and cross at Uruguaiana or Salto instead.

This region is relatively sparsely populated and bus service may be infrequent. Some cities are connected by frequent buses on their way to or from Montevideo—for instance, you should have no trouble getting from Salto to Paysandú or from Tacuarembó to Rivera. But in other cases you might have to transfer or wait for a bus that only runs a couple times a week.